In Grenoble

May 23, 2025

Some news

Today is pretty full, but before going there let's catch you up on a funny story about our suitcases we're having shipped up from Bari. This story began last winter when I shipped all of our broken/jammed/defective Lumix cameras up to the Grampies, partly so that they might be able to pick a serviceable backup for their upcoming tour and so that they could distribute others to anyone else that might find value in them.

Some time later we received a thank you card with a £20 pound note in it that they gave to us because they have no intention of ever, ever setting foot in England again. We had plans to go to England until quite recently, so we brought it along on our current tour - and left it in our suitcase in Bari since we wouldn't be needing it until we flew to London three months later.

So, about the suitcases, which were having shipped up here so we can fly home from Lyon instead. We managed to arrange payment for shipping them, and DHL sent them out on Monday with the expectation that they'd be delivered to our hotel in Pont-en-Royans on Wednesday. There was a delay though, and on Wednesday we received a message saying that now delivery would be delayed until Thursday, which is fine - we don't plan on leaving Pont-en-Royans until next Wednesday morning, so the delivery will be in plenty of time.

That's only half of the story though, the glass-half-full half. In the same message, we were told that ony one of the two suitcases would be delivered. The other one had been confiscated after a customs inspection found an issue and redirected it to a warehouse somewhere. The issue? The £20 note from the Grampies. Apparently shipment of cash is prohibited, and the suitcase has been quarantined until the issue is resolved. I've never heard of this restriction, but apparently there's concern that it's a money laundering scheme, implemented one £20 note at a time.

I told our DHL agent to just keep it, but it's not in his hands - either the decision on whether this is allowed, or the physical suitcase. He's trying to expedite the delivery and will keep us posted, but at the time of this writing it's Sunday morning, we're running out of days, and we won't hear any further updates until tomorrow because it's the weekend. Wish us luck!

The walk

Do you have any idea how challenging it is to keep the blog current when our days are filled by social encounters and shared activities with our friends? It's really tough! It's likely that the next several entries will be like this one, mostly pictures and videos with few words.

First, let's start with Rocky's climb up a million stairs to La Bastille, the fortification perched high above the Isère just to the west of the city. Here she helped us out by packing all her shots into a slideshow, so hardly any words are needed at all.

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Kathleen JonesThis track up to the top of the bastille is pretty amazing, Rachael! Granted it’s all wonky due to tree cover and it’s on foot, but still, what a great hike. The video proves that too.
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2 months ago

Rachael AndersonTo Kathleen JonesIt was wonderful!
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2 months ago

The Ride

The other four members of the group set off on a bike route I recommended, one that goes essentially straight south from the city, following the line of the awesome line of cliffs that define the western border of the Vercors. It's essentially flat riding for the first 12 miles as we ride a bike/running path along the Drac. The river that merges into the Isère at Grenoble. At the end, there's about a mile and a half climb to a plateau that I imagine will give us views to the high Alps east of here.

The ride goes generally as expected, and has several real highlights: spectacular views of the Vercors, a field of poppies (and we're anxiously waiting for Janos to post the videos from his drone taken at this point), a velomobile, and especially the Pont-le-Claix. The climb at the end is a bust though when the group quickly loses interest when we're fighting our way up an 18% cliff and it's clear that if we keep going there won't be the hoped for views anyway.

I should have stopped for more mural photos but didn't want to hold up the group.

Velomobile! This looks like great country for one. Ben Parke should come down this way,.

The near, arched bridge is the Pont-en-Claix.

We're on a smooth, quiet bike path most of the way.

It's not all smooth sailing though. At least the gravel only lasts for the mile the Garmin warned us of - in each direction.

Heading south. We could keep going this diestion al the way to Gap and Sisteron.

But we didn't. We turned west here toward the climb with the fabulous views I promised.

Here's the fabulous view - of the next ridge across the Drac. The consensus was that it wasn't worth that 18% climb, and certainly not the next one yet to come.

I love this building at Pont-en-Claix. I wish now that I'd biked just a bit further to get a side view so I could tell if the wall really bulges out and casts a shadow on itself or if it's all a painting illusion.

Sound track: In Your Own Sweet Way, by Dave Brubeck

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Lyle McLeodLove this profile! I can just see the rebellion at the turnaround point.
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2 months ago

Scott AndersonTo Lyle McLeodThere was some discussion alright. I had already gone further ahead on a flatter stretch and Suzanne got elected to reel me in.
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2 months ago

Today's ride: 30 miles (48 km)
Total: 836 miles (1,345 km)

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Steve Miller/GrampiesSo sorry to have featured yet again in one of your funnier irritating travel stories. We meant the 20£ to be a gift, not an unessessary nuisance.
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2 months ago

Bob KoreisRecalling a prior incident of cases going missing in shipping, I'd been keeping my fingers crossed that you'd be lacking a good story this time around. Hope this is the worst of it.
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2 months ago

Bob KoreisTo Steve Miller/GrampiesNo intention of ever setting foot in the UK again? Should I find and read your most recent journal from there?
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2 months ago

Steve Miller/GrampiesTo Bob KoreisIt would be more accurate to say we will never bicycle in the UK again. It was not so pleasant for us, with what we found to be poor cycling infrastructure, narrow hedge lined roads, run down seeming accommodations, not so great food and high prices. There are so many more appealing places on the Continent that we have placed the UK on our never again list.
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2 months ago

Suzanne GibsonGreat photos from the day, Scott! I didn't even know you were making a video.
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2 months ago

Scott AndersonTo Bob KoreisThanks, Bob. I admit we're starting to get anxious and are running though some what-if scenarios, mostly unpleasant.
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2 months ago

Scott AndersonTo Suzanne GibsonI was pleased with how the video came out. You can thank me for excluding the half minute while we all waited as you tried to get the combination for opening the garage door. Nice of you to raise your fist triumphantly once you did.
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2 months ago

Karen PoretBeautiful and a story, to boot 👍
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2 months ago